Dispensing device



Dec. 24., 1940. 1 H, Cox 'Y 2,225,859

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Apr`i-1 9, 1958 l'zll "l 2'0` F/G 7 /Nvmrgp ,o Y JAMES H. cox

42' ay @MM am' ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES DISPENSING DEVICE James H. Cox, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Daniel W. Cox, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 9, 1938, Serial No. 201,152

3 claims. (c1. 299-77) This invention relates to devices for dispensing fluids, such as gasoline, oil, air and water, at such places as service stations for automotive vehicles. In my Patent Number 2,118,294 granted May 24, 1938, I have diclosed an apparatus for the same general purposes and my present invention may be said to be an improvement on that apparatus having for its objects the simplification and cheapening of the structure and its adaptation to wider uses.

While the following description and the accompanying drawing disclose what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of my in- Vention, changes of structure are obviously possible without departure from the principles of the invention and the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as broadly as their express terms and the prior art admit.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a Vertical sectional View taken just inside the casing, as on the plane represented by line of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 is another vertical sectional view at right angles to that of Fig. 1, as on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on planes represented by lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a detail; Fig. 6 is a sectional view, enlarged, on line 6--6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cover of the casing, and Fig. 8 is a view showing the heat-retaining cover.

Referring to the drawing, represents the well or casing, the same comprising an elongated box, preferably of metal, made up of two U-shaped or channeled members |||a and. I0, said members being flanged, at along their edges. channels facing each other, but separated by inwardly extending plates l2 and |2a. These plates are spaced apart at their inner edges to provide a vertical guide slot for elements presently to be described. The flanges and the plates I2, I2a are rigidly secured together, as by rivets or by welding. The bottom of the casing is closed except for drain apertures I3. The casing is intended to stand vertically within the ground, being buried therein up almost to the cover, the ground level being indicated at |4 in Figs. 1 and 2. The cover is made up in two parts, designated I and I6. The part I5 is stationary, being rigidly attached to the upper ends of members I0EL and |01. It extends over and covers only a relatively small portion of the casing, being abutted at its edge by the larger part I6, which is removable. On its lower face it is provided with a rigidly attached member I1,

These members are assembled with their outer end is released by `the attendant.

which is adapted to be projected under the stationary part I5 of the cover. Its opposite edge may be detachably secured to the casing in any suitablemanner, as by a padlock I8. The abutting edges of the cover parts I5 and I6 are each notched to aITo-rd an opening for passage of the delivery hose or pipe I9, the outer end of which is provided with an enlargement, preferably in the form of a ball 20, said ball normally resting upon a set of rollers 2 I, said rollers and their m having a control valve within the said space. `This Valvev has a fixture 26 to which is attached the inner end of the hose or delivery pipe I9.

"Starting from this fixture, the pipe I9 is extended downwardly about a floating sheave 21,

thence upwardly about a diagonally arranged and stationary transfer sheave 28, thence downwardly about another floating sheave 29 and. thence upwardly, to pass out of the casing at the rollers 2|. The oating sheaves 21 and 251 are coaxially arranged, being journaled for independent rotation on the horizontal arms of a T-shaped member, the stem of which extends downwardly and is `screw-threaded into a weight 3|. This weight, together with the combined weights of the sheaves and the member 3U, make upa substantial load which is supported by the delivery hose, the load being su'icient to retract the hose into the casing when its When a fluid is to be `dispensed through the delivery hose, the attendant grasps the outer end of the hose pipe at the ball 20 and pulls the pipe outwardly over the rollers 2|, which turn freely and prevent friction. As the pipe is pulled out, the floating sheaves 21 and 29 are lifted along with the weight 3|. When fully extended, the pipe is long enough to reach the receiving device, although it may be a substantial distance away and in any direction fromthe casing. When, as Vhas been stated, the attendant relaxes his pull on the pipe, the load supported in the lower loops of the pipe draws the latter back into the casing, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

All lof the sheaves turn upon roller bearings, the nature of which is best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. The rollers, 32 are reduced in their diameters intermediate their ends and the hubs .of the sheaves are each provided with an interior groove 33 corresponding in position to the reduced parts of the rollers. Within the groove of each sheave is a split ring 34, the same being continuous except for a short gap 35. The thickness of the ring is somewhat greater than the depth of the groove, and its inner edge normally extends into the reduced portion of the rollers, whereby the sheave and rollers are held in position. The said reduced portion is, in effect, a groove about the roller and it has a depth at least as great as the thickness of the split ring. In assembling the parts, the ring is compressed into the grooves in the set of rollers forming a bearing and the sheave is then slipped over the set, or the latter is slipped into the sheave, until the released spring snaps out into the groove 33 of the sheave.

In the apparatus disclosed in my said patent the Idelivery hose has but a single loop with a single sheave therein, and the depth of the casing is substantially half the length of the hose, Since it is desirable that the hose may be pulled out to a considerable distance, it is necessary that a deep pit be formed in the ground for receiving that casing. In my present structure, the hose is caused to form a double loop; and it is obvious that the casing needs to be only about Aone-half as long or deep asin my prior structure. This very much facilitates the installation of the apparatus and effects a material saving in making up the casing. The members I2 and |2a are spaced apart, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and serve to guide the floating sheaves 21 and 29 and the weight 3|, the latter being provided with a pair of deep grooves 36 to receive the guide members. These members serve, further, to separate the runs of the hose on one side in Fig. 2 from vthose on the opposite side and thus avoid possible tangling of the hose and wear in case these runs come into cont-act.

The axis of the sheave 28 is above the space between the guide members I2 and I2EL and it is turned obliquely so that the sheave will receive that run of the hose which extends upwardly from floating sheave 29 and transfer the hose to the other side of the casing in position to make the downward runto the other floating sheave 21. The sheave 28 turns on roller bearings like those above described, and its axis is supported in an inverted U-shaped member 31. This member is attached to an element 38 which extends across the casing and rests upon the casing sides lllaL and mb. Its ends are turned downwardly to project into shallow pockets between the said casing sides and an outer band 39 which is rigidly attached to and encircles the casing at its top. The element 38 has its ends loosely projecting into the said pockets so that it and the sheave 28 may be lifted from the casing when the cover part I6 is removed. If desired,l the oating sheaves and the weight 3| may then be removed, the position of the valve 25 within the space 23 kpermitting this operation.

While, for simplification, I have shown but two downwardly extending loops and a single intermediate and upwardly extending loop, it is obvious that additional loops maybe employed if desired, each downwardly extending loop hav- K ing a floating sheave and eachupwardly extending loop `having a diagonally mounted sheave like that designated 28,. It is, of course, to be understood that-the outer endof the dispensing pipe is to be provided with the usual dispensing nozzle.

j A feature of the roller bearings not previously referred to is shown in Fig. 6. It comprises a spider ring 40 which surrounds the arm of the T-shaped member 30- upon which the sheave is journaled, said ring having radially extended fingers 4| which project between the adjacent rollers 32. The ring itself and the fingers are contained within the grooves of the rollers, and the fingers are thick enough circumferentially to hold the rollers out of contact with one another. This prevents friction and wear. Further, it facilitates assembling of the bearings. The rollers are dropped into the circular spaces between the ngers with the latter within the grooves of the rollers, and the latter are held in position by snapping the split ring 34 into said grooves. Thus is the assembly of these parts held together as a unit ready to be received within the sheave. It is to be understood that the bearing for the oblique sheave 28 is formed as just described.

Fig. 8 illustrates a feature which is of particular advantage when the invention is installed in cold places where freezing may occur. It comprises a heating element within the casing or well l0. As indicated and as preferred, the element is an electric'heater 42, so positioned as not to interfere with the movements of the dispensing pipe or the floating sheaves. On top of the casing is a special cover 43 which is adapted to rest upon the cover parts I5 and I6 with a close contact all about its edges, thus to prevent, as far asv practicable, the entrance of cold air. 'Ihis special cover is provided with a handle 44 and is hollow to receive the dispensing nozzle 45 of the pipe I9. The lower end of the well or casing lll is below the freezing level and the air is there warmer than it is at the top of the well. The

heating element warms this colder air and enough heat is conducted through the inner cover and about the pipe |9 to prevent freezing within the nozzle and the dispensing pipe outside the inner cover.

I claim:

l. In a dispensing device for fluids, an elongated casing having a lateral enlargement near its top end forming an additional space within the casing, a fluid supply pipe attached to the casing at said enlargement and extending into said additional space, a valve in said pipe and within said additional space, a flexible dispensing pipe, connecting with said valve and passing out ofthe casing at the said top end, said flexible pipe being so disposed within the casing as to have a pair of downwardly `depending loops and an intermediate upwardly extending loop, a iioating sheave for and resting within each of said depending loops, an axle member for said floating sheaves, said axle member having a .downwardV extension, a weight secured to said extension below the sheaves, a stationary sheave diagonally mounted within the upper end of the `casing over'which the flexible pipe passes at the bight of its upwardly extending loop, said stationary sheave serving to transfer the flexible pipe from one side of the casing to another and to sustain the said floating sheaves and the said weight, a removable cover member for the casing, which cover member is free from said stationary sheave` and which, when removed, provides a space at the top of the casing above the stationary sheave through which the sheaves and weight may-be removed from the casing, the position of the said valve within said additional space permitting the sheaves and weight to pass it, the casing being rectangular in transverse cross section and made up of a pair of flanged channel members, the iianged edges of the said members facing but separated by guide elements which project into the casing and extend longitudinally therein being spaced apart at their inner edges to form a guide slot, and in which the weight is provided with a pair of opposed slots to receive the respective guide elements to guide the weight and the floating sheaves.

2. In a dispensing device for uids, an elongated casing which is rectangular in cross-section and is made upof two flanged channel members and a pair of guide elements secured between the flanges of said members and extended in spaced and opposed relation longitudinally of and within the casing, a fluid supply pipe attached to and leading into said casing near its upper end, a flexible dispensing pipe connection with said supply pipe and passing out of the casing at said upper end, said exible pipe being so disposed within the casing as to have a pair of downward- 1y depending loops and an intermediate upwardly extending loop, a floating sheave for and resting within each of said depending loops, an axis common to said sheaves and upon which the latter are journaled, said axis being guided within the space between said guide elements, and a stationary sheave diagonally mounted within the upper end of the casing over which the flexible pipe passes, said stationary sheave being within the upwardly extending loop.

3. In a dispensing device for fluids, an elongated casing which is rectangular in cross-section and is made up of two flanged channel members and a pair of guide elements secured between the anges of said members and extended in spaced and opposed relation longitudinally of and within the casing, a fluid supply pipe attached to and leading into said casing near its upper end, a exible dispensing pipe connecting with said supply pipe and passing out of the casing at said upper end, said dispensing pipe being looped downwardly within the casing, an axis upon which said sheave is journaled, and a weight attached to said axis and below the oating sheave, said weight being notched to receive the said guide elements, said elements holding the weight and the sheave from rotating horizontally.

JAMES H. COX. 

